Zip code 81253: Wetmore, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81253?

81253 is assigned to Wetmore, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81253 in?

81253 is mostly in Custer County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 81253?

About 524 people live in 81253, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81253?

The median household income in 81253 is $76,346.

Q: What zip codes are near 81253?

The closest zip codes to 81253 are 81023, 81226, 81005, 81221, 81244.

Residential delivery areaCuster CountyMountain Time

Population

524

Median household income

$76K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$285K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

55.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

94 sq mi

6 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 81253

81253 is a rural zip code in Wetmore, Colorado (Custer County), covering 94 sq mi of land. About 524 people live here, or 6 per square mile. The median resident is 55.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $76,346 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 16.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $285,000, or 3.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 66% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 47.1 minutes each way, and 34% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in police and fire protection; food service; and management.

How 81253 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute47.1 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min7th of 450 in CO
Broadband access100%
99th
StrengthU.S. 91% · CO 93.5%5th of 482 in CO
Government workers39.4%
99th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%16th of 483 in CO
Median age55.2
98th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.757th of 484 in CO
Work from home33.5%
97th
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%43rd of 483 in CO
Unemployment rate11.3%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%17th of 483 in CO
Poverty rate16.2%
74th
U.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%90th of 482 in CO
Residents 65 and older19.7%
72nd
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%204th of 484 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher35%
57th
U.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%238th of 484 in CO
Median earnings per worker$50,467
57th
U.S. $49,666 · CO $56,473258th of 478 in CO
Median household income$76,346
45th
U.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470275th of 460 in CO
Homeownership rate65.5%
43rd
U.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%357th of 482 in CO
Median home value$285,000
41st
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400353rd of 461 in CO
Per capita income$35,189
35th
U.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636356th of 483 in CO
Healthcare workers8.1%
29th
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%231st of 483 in CO
Veterans3.5%
20th
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%424th of 484 in CO
Diversity index15.4
8th
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5436th of 484 in CO
Foreign-born residents1.1%
6th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%389th of 484 in CO
Rent-burdened renters23.8%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%396th of 447 in CO
Residents under 188.6%
2nd
U.S. 22% · CO 21%436th of 484 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.340
2nd
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · CO 0.459426th of 480 in CO
Population524
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189390th of 484 in CO
Population density6/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi351st of 484 in CO
Uninsured rate1.1%
1st
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%448th of 481 in CO
Housing vacancy0%
1st
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%462nd of 482 in CO
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%378th of 483 in CO
Self-employed workers0%
1st
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%468th of 483 in CO

Measure	81253	Custer	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Average commuteWeakness	47.1 min	36.9 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	99th	7th of 450
Broadband accessStrength	100%	80.4%	93.5%	91%	99th	5th of 482
Government workers	39.4%	16.1%	14.5%	14.5%	99th	16th of 483
Median age	55.2	58.2	37.7	38.9	98th	57th of 484
Work from home	33.5%	23.5%	21%	15.1%	97th	43rd of 483
Unemployment rateWeakness	11.3%	3.7%	4.6%	5.2%	96th	17th of 483
Poverty rate	16.2%	12.7%	9.4%	12.5%	74th	90th of 482
Residents 65 and older	19.7%	33.1%	15.6%	17.2%	72nd	204th of 484
Bachelor's degree or higher	35%	43.7%	45.7%	35.7%	57th	238th of 484
Median earnings per worker	$50,467	$50,734	$56,473	$49,666	57th	258th of 478
Median household income	$76,346	$72,674	$95,470	$80,734	45th	275th of 460
Homeownership rate	65.5%	85.3%	66.2%	65.2%	43rd	357th of 482
Median home value	$285,000	$392,100	$539,400	$332,700	41st	353rd of 461
Per capita income	$35,189	$48,232	$52,636	$44,673	35th	356th of 483
Healthcare workers	8.1%	10.7%	8.8%	9.7%	29th	231st of 483
Veterans	3.5%	12.3%	7.5%	6.2%	20th	424th of 484
Diversity index	15.4	20.7	52.5	61.4	8th	436th of 484
Foreign-born residents	1.1%	2.3%	9.8%	14.1%	6th	389th of 484
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	23.8%	49.5%	52.9%	51.1%	3rd	396th of 447
Residents under 18	8.6%	13.7%	21%	22%	2nd	436th of 484
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.340	0.466	0.459	0.483	2nd	426th of 480
Population	524	5,247	5,862,189	334,922,499	1st	390th of 484
Population density	6/sq mi	7/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	351st of 484
Uninsured rateStrength	1.1%	5%	7.7%	8.4%	1st	448th of 481
Housing vacancy	0%	42.3%	8.3%	10.1%	1st	462nd of 482
Tech workers	0%	3.1%	5.2%	3.8%	1st	378th of 483
Self-employed workers	0%	23.3%	11.3%	10%	1st	468th of 483

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

28%

18–24

25–34

12%

35–44

45–54

31%

55–64

10%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

55.2

Under 18

8.6%

65 and over

19.7%

Race and ethnicity

White92%
Black0%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other8%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

15.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

44.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 220
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 67.3%
Married couples: 67.3%
Living alone: 10.9%
Veterans (of adults): 3.5%
Male / female: 41% / 59%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

$50–75k

$75–100k

60%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

81253

$76,346

Custer Co.

$72,674

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,189

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

16.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.340

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81253

$285,000

Custer Co.

$392,100

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81253

—

Custer Co.

$1,069

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

97%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 220
Owner-occupied: 65.5%
Vacant: 0%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 23.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 23.8%
Home value to income: 3.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

67%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

33%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

28%

30–44

24%

45–59

60+

48%

Average commute

47.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

11.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Police and fire

28%

Food service

27%

Management

11%

Office and admin

10%

Sales

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Education

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Cleaning and personal care

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Transportation and moving

Industries

Public administration

28%

Restaurants and hotels

27%

Education

11%

Professional and technical services

Health care and social assistance

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Retail

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Other services

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$50,467

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

39.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81253	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	—	$74,888
Service	$50,078	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,115	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

16%

Some college

38%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

29%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 100%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 35%
Graduate or professional degree: 6%
Households with broadband: 100%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 44.1%
No internet access: 0%
Without health insurance: 1.1%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Wetmore
State: Colorado
County: Custer County
Center point: 38.1695° N, 105.0665° W
Land area: 94 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

81253 spans 3 counties

Custer County70% of land
Fremont County24% of land
Pueblo County6% of land

Zip codes near 81253

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81023	Beulah, CO	10 mi	1,417	$55,641	$375,200
81226	Florence, CO	12 mi	7,459	$53,969	$258,800
81005	Pueblo, CO	13 mi	32,441	$70,574	$298,500
81221	Coal Creek, CO	14 mi	324	$34,000	$199,000
81244	Rockvale, CO	15 mi	660	$51,250	$195,200
81290	Florence, CO · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
81252	Westcliffe, CO	20 mi	4,763	$69,527	$401,900
81019	Colorado City, CO	20 mi	1,280	$38,056	$223,400
81007	Pueblo, CO	21 mi	35,690	$96,713	$396,800
81004	Pueblo, CO	21 mi	25,757	$51,789	$213,700
81069	Rye, CO	22 mi	1,678	$97,513	$364,700
81240	Penrose, CO	23 mi	4,800	$90,417	$341,400

Questions about 81253

What city is zip code 81253?

81253 is assigned to Wetmore, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81253 in?

81253 is mostly in Custer County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 81253?

About 524 people live in 81253, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81253 in?

81253 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81253?

The median household income in 81253 is $76,346.

What zip codes are near 81253?

The closest zip codes to 81253 are 81023, 81226, 81005, 81221, 81244.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81253, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.